This morning, a collision involving three vehicles, one of them an overturned semi-truck, disrupted the flow of traffic on Interstate 40 near Whitten Road, leaving two individuals injured. The incident occurred just before 9:40 a.m. on the eastbound lanes, as Action News 5 reported. According to their coverage, a woman was transported to the hospital in critical condition, and an accompanying man received non-critical injuries. However, it was reported that it caused all westbound lanes to become blocked, leading to an advisory for drivers to seek alternate routes.
The crash seems to have involved a stalled car and the semi-truck tipping on its side, based on details from a WREG report. The impact of the collision compelled authorities to shut down eastbound traffic on I-40, significantly delaying traffic as westbound lanes remained open but congested. Memphis Police are still unraveling the events that precipitated the crash, noting that this investigation continues.
After the accident, Memphis Police (MPD) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) were on the scene, as TDOT cameras captured images of the congestion that grew to extend back to the Interstate 240 interchange. FOX13 Memphis included details from an MPD statement indicating that eastbound traffic was obstructed, and emergency vehicles were seen in the westbound lanes, partially blocking that side of the interstate.
The current state of the individuals involved remains a primary concern. While the woman was initially listed in critical condition at Regional One Hospital, updates on her status, along with the man's, will guide our understanding of the human toll exacted by this incident.
